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You know the old saying, "You are what you eat"?

This is my dad, James:

He's nuts about nuts,

photo by Sunshine Hanan.

is ready to dive into a plate of fresh sashimi at any time of the day,

photo by mollyeh11.

is quazy about a soft bun with Peking Duck and plum sauce,

photo by janx2o

is loco for anything coconut,

photo by mangilao30.

won't eat dairy, but devours egg custard tarts,

photo by chotda

can't pass up a dish of rocky road ice cream,

photo by bonnipink.

and can always find room for his all-time fave dessert, lemon meringue pie:

photo by SimpleFood.

Actually, that's just for starters.

He eats at least once every three hours, and as soon as he's finished a meal, he's busy planning what to eat next. At age 94, he's a certified expert in this area. You can see why I like him. ☺ And he just happens to be the best dad ever!

To James and all the other dads out there,


             Hope your Sunday is decidedly delicious!!

♥ BTW, What are your dads' favorite foods?

*Father's Day card by Sarah Vazquez, Living a Creative Life.

 

            

Is there a particular song that always reminds you of your dad?

Here is one in honor of mine:

       
                My great-niece, Marin, photographed by her dad, Ian

Oh, the power we daughters hold over our fathers!

We don't mean to.

But you insisted on wrapping yourselves around our little fingers.

Then you let us stand on your feet so we could dance, and proudly carried us around on your shoulders for all to see.

Is it any wonder we worship you?

Every day our lives hang in the balance, and you bear us up, without a second thought, making our burdens as light as air. 

ONLY CHILD
by D. Nurkse

I cradled my newborn daughter
and felt the heartbeat 
pull me out of shock.
She didn't know
what her hands were:
she folded them. I asked her
was there a place
where there was no world.
She didn't know
what a voice was: her lips
were the shape of a nipple.

(Rest here.)


ONLY A DAD
by Edgar Albert Guest

Only a dad with a tired face,
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little of gold or fame
To show how well he has played the game;
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come and to hear his voice.

Only a dad with a brood of four,
One of ten million men or more
Plodding along in the daily strife,
Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,
With never a whimper of pain or hate,
For the sake of those who at home await.

Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,
Merely one of the surging crowd,
Toiling, striving from day to day,
Facing whatever may come his way,
Silent whenever the harsh condemn,
And bearing it all for the love of them.

Only a dad but he gives his all,
To smooth the way for his children small,
Doing with courage stern and grim
The deed that his father did for him.
This is the line that for him I pen:
Only a dad, but the best of men.

(from A Heap O' Livin', 1916)



                     
Thanks, Dad, and Happy Father's Day to all the guys out there who are "only dads."

Cloudscome is hosting today's Poetry Friday Roundup at A Wrung Sponge.

**Here's a nice list of father daughter stories from Mitali's Fire Escape.

 

Author: Bill Wise
Illustrator: Bill Farnsworth
Published: 2007 Lee & Low Books (on JOMB)
ISBN: 1584302690 Chapters.ca Amazon.com

This riveting roller coaster of taunts, talent and tenterhooks relays a true story of suffering and success and invites us to examine the troubling shadow of racism and the resiliency of those who rise above it.

Check out the full list of non-fiction picture books nominated for the 2007 Cybils Awards here.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, librarian, or anyone else who enjoys reading books with kids, Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer is a great book that will inspire discussion.
It can be a short conversation or can be expanded into more in-depth learning activities or lessons. Here are just a few ideas.

Baseball

• Discuss the sport and its most prominent figures, past and present
  
• Tell your child Jackie Robinson's story who faced similar issues as Louis Sockalexis
• Compare and contrast the game today to the game back then; in the book, there are many obvious differences, both in the text and illustrations
• Talk about your favorite team or players
• If you or your child plays baseball, discuss an important game you or he/she played

• Talk about the Native American culture, their traditions, and the pride they have in their land and people; why was it important for Louis's father to accept him? What impact did Louis's achievements have on his people?
• Discuss a Native American tribe in your area if applicable
• Visit a museum or exhibit that features Native American culture, art, people
  
• Talk about other famous Native Americans...in the past and present. How are they portrayed in the textbooks and culture?
  

• Louis was treated poorly because he was a Native American...talk to your child about how he/she felt about this and how they think Louis felt. Talk about his strength and determination.
  
• What other groups are victims of racism? Discuss the Civil Rights Movement and the Trail of Tears.
• Have they witnessed or experienced racism first-hand? Have you?
  
• How should you respond when someone makes a racist remark or joke? What should you do if someone is being treated unfairly?
  
• What is the difference between racism and prejudice? What groups are victims of prejudice?
  

This week's nonfiction choice

Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer

• Author: Bill Wise
• Illustrator: Bill Farnsworth
  
• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books (March 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584302690
• ISBN-13: 978-1584302698

The year is 1897, and Louis Sockalexis, a baseball player for the Cleveland Spiders is in New York getting ready to face Amos Rusie, the major league’s most formidable pitcher. Getting to this point was not an easy road for Louis, a member of the Native American Penobscot tribe in Maine. Confronted with callous racism and his own father’s disapproval, Louis’s passion for baseball prevent him from giving up his dream. Regarded by many as one of the best players in the league, this momentous game will change his life and the public’s view of him forever.

Bill Wise’s account of the first acknowledged Native American major league baseball player is nonfiction but reads like a story. We are taken back to Louis’s childhood when he plays his first baseball game and falls in love with the sport. We watch him grow into a man and a powerhouse slugger, and we witness the insults, the stinging words, and the prejudice he faced every day. As I was reading, I found myself feeling anger towards the people, empathy towards Louis, and great excitement as Louis stood at the plate. The sepia tones of Farnsworth’s illustrations take us back to the time period, but I hardly noticed the pictures as I was reading because I was so involved with the story. Much more than a book about baseball, Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer is a book about determination, hard work, adversity, and acceptance.

This would be a great pick for a baseball fan or someone who is interested in learning more about famous Native Americans. In addition, it’s a nice book to prompt discussion about prejudice and racism, but I’ll talk more about that tomorrow when discuss reading tips and discussion opportunities.